During volcanic eruptions, lava, pyroclastic flows, ash-fall and poisonous gases often affect or kill livestock. Immediately following an eruption, water and feed may be contaminated or in short supply. Weeks to months after eruptions, ash can continue to affect the respiratory system and mucous membranes of animals and humans leading to chronic health issues. To mitigate the risks and effects of volcanic eruptions on livestock and their keepers, identification of safe livestock production zones and mechanisms for mobilizing emergency funds and timely interventions are required. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ (FAO) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID/BHA), are collaborating with stakeholders in targeted countries to strengthen planning, preparedness, response, and recovery mechanisms in mitigating the effects of volcanic eruptions on livestock livelihoods. Emergency management plans for livestock in various locations prone to volcanic eruption are being developed and tested in collaboration with public, private, NGO, and community actors, as well as by bringing together a wide variety of expertise including veterinarians, volcanologists, disaster risk- reduction specialists, social anthropologists, and economists. Procedures on livestock resettlement after an eruption consider prevailing local conditions, practices, and cultures. Upon completion of the assessments, development will begin on a regional tool improving practical emergency preparedness and emergency management of livestock. The tool will include a range of options such as care for translocated livestock, compensation schemes, host community arrangements, and co-location of livestock keepers with their animals as well as determination of safe livestock production zones. While the tool will have a global application, it will include experiences and lessons learned from handling crises from specific volcanic eruptions in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vanuatu.

Dr. Ian Dacre is the Regional Emergency Management Specialist for Animal Health (REMS-AH) in the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok, Thailand. A native kiwi, he obtained his Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree from Massey University, New Zealand, completed his Ph.D. at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK, and gained Membership to the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Sciences serving as a past president and examiner for the dentistry chapter.

After working in Scotland, Morocco and New Zealand he has been based in Thailand since 2007, initially working to alleviate the impact of natural disasters on animals (and their owners) with the charity World Animal Protection (formerly WSPA), and subsequently working with the OIE as the Project Coordinator focusing on Foot-and-Mouth Disease Control in the region.

Ian joined FAO in 2018, working on the development of regional programmes related to the control of high impact transboundary animal disease and zoonoses in Asia, and facilitating coordination and collaboration among sectors at national, regional and international levels. Since the recent spread of African swine fever throughout Asia, he has been heavily involved in FAO’s response to ASF as well as developing FAO’s regional emergency animal health programme.